Pedal bass-organ.



PATENTBD NOV. 5, 1907;

L. D. MORRIS. PEDAL BASS ORGAN.

APPLIOATIOI mum 001'. no. 1900.

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PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

L. n. MORRIS. PEDAL BASS ORGAN.

APPLIGATION FILED OOTJO 1900 Qfm mauo THE murals rzrrns co wunmcmu, D c.

PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

' L. D. MORRIS. PEDAL BASS ORGAN. APPLICATION r1121) 001.20. 1906.

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L. D. MORRIS. PEDAL BASS ORGAN.

APPLIGATIOI FILED Oil L20, 1906.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEOI

ARD DANIEL MORRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PEDAL BASS-ORGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

A li i fil d October 20, 1906 Serial No. 339,813-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD DANIEL Moinns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Pedal Bass-Organ; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates particularly to a new and automatic power organ containing all the elements of a complete instrument so that it may be used in any place and without outside assistance of any kind. Every organist finds it absolutely necessary to devote a certain length of time of each day to the actual practice in the management of this instrument in order that he may acquire the desirable proficiency and skill which are indispensable in the rendition of the classical composition of the masters. The dilliculty now encountered is that the ownership of a complete instrument offering an opportunity for simultaneous hand and foot practice is beyond the means of the great majority of organists, who illlOlUiOl'O are obliged to obtain permission for the use of instruments installed in churches, concert halls and the like. ut the use of such instruments is connected with considerable expense owing to the fact that outside means are required to operate the bellows for the purpose of furnishing wind pressure.

All these diiliculties and inconveniences have been successfully overcome with the invention and construction of my pedal bass organ, the objects of which are as follows: first, to provide inexpensive means allowing the convenient practice on the pedal key board; second. to combine the instrument with a piano therc by offering the possibility of a simultaneous practice for hands and feet third, to arrange a direct mechanical connection between the keys of the pedal board and the tone controlling valves; fourth, to provide automatic means in mechanical connection with the keys of the pedal keyboard for the operation of a motor and the production of power which is required to acuate wind pressure devices for the sounding of the pipes or reeds; fifth, to afford facilities so that any piano may be readily attached or detached from the organ body; and sixth, to furnish the combination of a piano with a partial organ which is inexpensive, indcpendont of surrounding conditions as regards power, which can be installed in any private dwelling, and which is always ready for simultaneous hand and foot prac tice.

It is, of course, possible to employ auxiliary mechanical power for the operation of the wind pressure dcl vices when such power is readily available, disconnecting and disregarding those which are directly provided for that purpose. It will also be clear that l as shown in section at lines X-X of Fig.

in such case, devices other than the bellows and wind chests illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as lor instance fans and blowers operated by electric, or other available power, may be used.

My invention is particularly useful in places where no auxiliary power for the actuation of the wind pressure apparatus is to be had, or where its application would be too expensive.

The best and most practical embodiment of my invention and the one which I preferably attach to the instrument inorder to make it self contained and independent of surrounding conditions consists of the novel parts, improvements and combinations as shown in the accompanying drawings and which will hereinafter be fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings which are attached to the specification and form a part thereof, Figure 1, illus trates a sectional elevation of the structure containing the tone-controlling valve-chests and upon which the pedal key board is mounted. This view also discloses the mechanical connection between the pedalkeys and the power device which actuates the bellows; Fig. 2, is a plan view of Fig. I; Fig. 3, is a detail in section, showing more fully the mechanical method employed for the manipulation of the tone-controlling valves and also the means whereby foot pressure is used to produce the necessary power for the operation of the wind devices; Fig. 4, is an end elevation of the spring power motor employed for that purpose; Fig. 5, is a diagram, partly in section of the bellows, the inflated wind chest, the stop mechanism controlling the wind connection between wind chest and a register of pipes or reeds, the valve chests and the pedal key board; Fig. (5, shows the construction of the pedal stop action in section and the connection between the latter and the corresponding register of pipes or reeds, 7. Fig. 7, is a plan view of the valve chest showing the location of the valve knobs arranged in two different chests 0r registers; Fig. 8, is a detail of the power winding mechanism arranged on a shaft, which is shown in section; and Fig. 9, shows a plan view of the latter. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the organ pedestal and piano thereon.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The general arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 will convey the principal idea of the embodiment of my invention. All the details of the invention are incased in a suitable pedestal A and only the pedal key board is mounted upon the same in the separate casing B. The pipes or reeds, not shown, may be placed horizontally upon the bottom of the pedestal, or they may be arranged vertically in a structure adjacent to or mounted upon the latter, as will be readily apparent and which is immaterial as regards thefundamental features of my invention. Arranged within the upper casing B and flush with the top line of the latter are the pedal keys 1 and 1 of which. only one pedal key board is shown, although there may be a plurality of such boards; however, in illustrating the case one board is deemed sufficient for that purpose. Each key, no matter whether sharp or Hat, is mounted upon the vertical pin 2 and is provided with a tapering cut-out 2 so as to allow it to freely move thereon when pressed down by the foot at the extreme opposite end. At this end each key is provided with a rigid extension 3 which passes under the cover 3 of the pedestal. Directly below each extension are located two tone controlling diaphragm valves 4, the knobs 4 of which extend above the cover 5 of the valve chest 5. Upon depressing pedal key 1, its extension 3 forces the diaphragm valves 4 down; disks 4 uncover valve orifices 5 and wind passes from the interior of the valve chests 5 through wind canals 5 into the corresponding pipe, or reed, (not shown) and produces a tone. I

Simultaneously with the opening of diaphragm valve 4, the rigid extension 3 depresses a vertical bar 6, and as the latter is linked with lever 7, which is rotatably mounted upon shaft 8, said lever is also pressed downward in the direction of the arrow. Upon the same shaft 8 and stationary therewith, is mounted a ratchet wheelQ. The latter is in ratchet connection with two pawls 7 movably mounted to disks 7 of lever 7 above the ratchet wheel 9. It follows that the shaft 8, which is suitably journaled, will be turned in proportion with the movement of lever '7 forcing this motion.- A sprocket wheel 10 is rigidly mounted at a convenient location upon shaft 8 and a chain 11 connects it with another sprocket wheel 12 secured to the winding mechanism of a spring motor 13. It will thus be seen that the foot pedal action executes two objects, first, it opens the corresponding tone controlling valves 4, and second, it winds the spring of spring motor 13 so that the latter may operate the bellows 1.4. For this purpose a suitable link chain 15, or other power conveying means, connects the running mechanism of the spring motor 13 with crank shaft 16 and as soon as the latter revolves the bellows 14 are actuated for the purpose of furnishing the requisite wind pressure. This is in short the general embodiment of my invention, from which it will be plain that this partial organ is a self-contained instrument, which can be successfully operated without any outside assistance.

I will now proceed to describe the various mechanical parts of my invention in detail.

In Fig. 3 the details of the diagram described above are more clearly shown. Only one pedal key 1 is shown which is of the full tone series in contradistinction from the series of half tone 1 as also shown in Fig. 1. This key is journaled, as has been previously ex.- plained, upon the vertical pin 2' and room for movement thereon is provided by the tapering cut-out 2. Its extreme other end carries extension 3 in rigid connection and the latter extends over the knobs t of the corresponding tone controlling valves. The latter are of the diaphragm type 4 being the diaphragm which closes the valve stem opening, wherein the valve stem is guided, at the top and thereby prevents any escape or waste of air. This is a very important point in organ valve construction as the air is valuable and leaks must, in consequence thereof, be positively avoided. \Vhen key 1 is being depressed by foot power, extension 3 presses upon valve knobs 4 and forces valves 4 downward, thereby removing valve disks 4 from the orifices 5 and allowing the wind to pass from the interior of valve chest 5 through the wind connection 5 into the corresponding soundproducing pipe or reed, not shown. I

Simultaneously with the opening of the valve 4, extension 3 acts upon the vertical bar 6. The latter is guided within a bracket 6 and its travel therein is limited by two pins 6 A spring 6 restores the position of the bar to its upward limit as soon as the pressure by the extension 3 has been removed. Bar- 6 is linked with lever 7 by means of a rod 6 which is bent at a right angle at its lower end and passed through an eye 7 in lever 7 and held in connection therewith by means of a pin 6 as shown in Fig. 9. Each disk 7, to which lever 7 is attached, is rotatably mounted upon shaft 8. This shaft is horizontally journaled below the pedal keys and extends longitudinally through the pedestal so that the extension 3 of each key may act upon the corresponding vertical bar 6 and in connection therewith upon lever 7 and disk 7. Every disk is retained in its position upon the shaft by a sleeve 9 with its ratchet wheel 9. A set screw 9 secures the latter with the shaft 8. Upon the disk 7 and above ratchet wheel 9, which is face to face with the latter, are mounted two pawls 7 in ratchet engagement with ratchet Wheel 9. It follows that during each downward stroke of lever 7, these pawls will engage the ratchet wheel and effect a short turning movement of the shaft. Shaft 8 carries a sprocket wheel 10 in rigid connection and so located that it can be conveniently attached by a chain to the winding mechanism of spring motor 13, so that, whenever shaft 8 is turned, the chain 11, which connects sprocket wheel 10 of the shaft 8 with sprocket wheel-12 of the winding mechanism, will convey this movement to the winding mechanism and turn it correspondingly. This winding mechanism consists of a revolving shaft 13 suitably mounted upon the frame plate 13 of the spring motor. Rigidly secured upon this shaft is a ratchet wheel 13 and a pinion 13 The latter is in gear connection with a gear 13 secured with the axle 13 of spring barrel 13 Above ratchet wheel 13 and rotatably mounted upon a stationary post 13 is a pawl 13 in engagement with the inclined teeth of ratchet wheel 13. It follows that at every turn of shaft 8, this movement will be transferred by the chain 11 to rotary shaft 13, pinion 13 will engage gear wheel 13 and the spring within spring barrel 13 will be wound, while ratchet wheel 13 and pawl 13 prevent its uncoiling. The spring so wound 1 actuates spring barrel .13 and the teeth of the latter set the mechanism of the spring motor in motion. The running mechanism of spring motor 13 carries a suitable shaft 13 which extends through the fra me of the spring motor and which is provided with another sprocket wheel 13 for the purpose of transferring the movement of the running mechanism to a crank shaft .16 by means of chain 15 and sprocket wheel 16. A regulator 13 regulates the speed of the running device of spring motor 13. This can be furthermore controlled and regulated by the action of pedal 24 shown in Fig. 2, which controls any suitable starting and stopping mechanism (not shown). Connecting rod l l connects the crank 1b oi crank shaft 16 with a suitable bellows 14, the operation oi which, when the crank is being turned, will be obvious.

The same shaft may be attached either to one or to a plurality of bellows as is shown in the diagram Fig. 5. It should also be stated in this connection that the method of transferring the power created by the pressure of the toot on the pedal keys may be widely varied, and that, instead of using sprocket wheels and chains, a simple rope drive may be substituted. Furthermore it will also be clear that instead 01' using a lever 7 for each pedal key, a plurality oi the latter may act upon the same lever, whereby the arrangement of levers and ratchet wheels on shaft 8 may be simplified. Or the ratchet arrangement may be entirely abandoned and a friction device used.

111 every org in or partial organ, a plurality of stops is used. These stops are for the. purpose of connecting independent registers of pipes or reeds with the wind device. So long as the stops are undrawn, no air under pressure can enter any of the registers or valve chests 5.

The method employed for drawing the stops is shown in diagram Fig. 5. ln this diagram is shown a wind box 17 provided with three bellows l-ii operated by the cranks J6 of crank shaft lti and the connecting rods l t. From this box the wind passes through pipe connection 2i into a pressure reservoir 18. The latter is provided with a diaphragm cover 18 and as the chest becomes filled, it inflates the diaphragm cover and the latter rises. A uniform air pressure is obtained by placing a weight 18 upon the cover. This weight is provided with a vertical rod 18 which passes through an orifice in the cross strap 18 for guidance. 18 is a safety valve, which is opened by contact. of the valve stem 18 with cross strap 18 as soon as the chest is fully inflated and the surplus air is allowed to escape.

In valve chest 19 the various stop valves are housed. (.onnecion 21 conveys the wind under pressure into this chest and its further progress is here barred unless one or more of the stops are drawn. These stops are conveniently placed within the reach of the feet of the player and consist of a pedal 20, journaled at point 20 and held in its position by spring 20 When a certain stop is to be drawn, the pedal 20 is forced down and passed under an offset 20 in the wood work of the casing as shown in Fig. ti. ln forcing the pedal into this position, it depresses diaphragm stop valve 22; the disk 22 of the latter uncovers orifice 22 and wind under pressure is allowed to enter through connection 21 into the valve chest 5 in which are located the tone-controlling valves for a definite register of pipes or reeds. in Fig. 6 is shown a number of tone controlling valves of a certain register, of which one is illustrated in the opened or active position. The extension 3 by means of which these valves are opened shown in scction above the I valve knob 4 'lhcse valves are shown on lines X-X,

X--X of the plan view of a valve chest containing two registers of pipes or reeds. All of the diaphragm valves i, as well as the stop valves 22 are retained in their closed position by springs 23, so that when the pressure is removed from the pedal and the latter is pulled back into its normal position by its individual spring, each valve will move back and close the corresponding valve orifice. In order to guide the movement of the valves, each lower end of the respective alve stem fits into a round indentation in the correspondingvalve spring at point 23 As has been explained, this invention is principally for the purpose of affording means for foot practice as well as tor the rendition of music, and it no sound is wanted, it is not necessary to wind the spring motor. it will therefore be obvious that many different means may be employed to disengage the shaft 8 from the spring motor during that time, for which purpose a friction clutch or the like-not shownmay be successfully used. When it is desired to practice with both the feet and hands the piano 0 is mounted upon the pedestal as shown in Fig. 10.

For the rendition of music the spring motor is wound as soon as the foot practice upon the pedal key-board is started. The running mechanism of the spring motor is started by pedal 24 and the wind bellows 14 force a certain volume of air into the wind reservoir 18 until the latter becomes fully inflated when the surplus of air will be discharged through safety valve 18 From this reservoir the wind passes into the stop valve chest 19 and through the corresponding drawn stop action into the valve chest 5 containing the tone-controlling valves of a definite register of pipes or reeds. It will thus be seen that the obje t: of making this instrument self contained and entirely independent of surrounding conditions as regards power has been successfully aceomplishod.

Having now fully dcscribcd my invcntion what 1 claim as new and dcsirc to secure by vLetters Patent is:

i. The combination with an organ having pednl keys, of :1 piano mounted on said organ and adapted to be operated simultaneously with said keys. wind generating means in organ. a motor adapted to actuate said wind generatin means and means operated by the pedal keys adapted to supply energy to the motor. l

3. in a device of? the class described the combination with pedal keys, of valves actuated thereby. wind gener :it'ing me; :s. a spring motor adapted to operate. the same and mechanism adapted to automatically wind said motor when the keys are operated.

1;. In a device oi the class described the combination with pedal keys, of valves actuated thereby. bellows adnpt ed to generate wind for said valves. :1 spring motor, winding mechanism therefor and means operntively connecting s id pedal keys with the winding mechanism and adapted to operate the same when the k 1 are operated.

-l. In :in organ, the combinat 11 with pedal keys of diaphragm valves actuated thereby. a wind generating device. a motor adapted to operate the same and means operated by the pedal k adapted to supply energy to the motor.

'7. In :in organ, the combination with valves, of pedal s each having a rigid extension thereon adapted to open responding valve when the pedal is depre. ed, a beladapted to supply wind to said valves a motor adapted to operate the bellows and means opera ted by the keys for transmitting energy to said motor.

6. In an organ. the combination, of pedal keys, with valves. a rigid extension on each pedal key adapted to open a corresponding vulve when the pedal key is depressed. a vertical bar ti adapted to be pressed downward by the dmvnward movement of the pedal key, a lever 7 connected by means of a joint with the said vertical bar, a shaft 8 upon which the [ever 7 is rotatively mounted, a ratchet wheel fl secured to said shaft 8. a disk on said le ver. pawls 7 mounted upon the disk and in ratchet connection with said ratchet wheel. a sprocket wheel 10 mounted upon the shaft 8 and rigidly secured thereto, a spring motor 13, a winding mechanism for said motor, a

sprocket wheel 12 and a chain 11 adapted to convey the rotary movement of the shaft 8 to the winding mechanism, a bellows adapted to be operated by said motor and means for conveying the wind from the bellows to said valves.

7. In an organ, the combination of pedal keys, with valves. means on said keys adapted to open said valves when the keys are depressed, -a bellows, wind connections between 'the bellows and said valves, a spring motor adapted to operate said bellows and means connected with-each pedal key adapted to wind the motor when the keys are operated. v

S. In an organ, the combination with pedal keys of valves operated thereby, a shaft journaled beneath said keys, means operated by each key adapted to rotate said shaft, a spring motor, winding means therefor operatively connected with said shaft, a bellows driven by said motor and means for conveying wind from said bellows to said valves.

f). In an organ, the combination of pedal keys, with valves, means connected with said pedal keys adapted to open one of said valves whenever the corresponding pedal key is depressed, a shaft journaled beneath the keys, means actuated by said keys adapted to rotate the shaft, a bellows adapted to supply wind to the valves, :1 motor adapted to operate said bellows and means operatively connected with said shaft for energizing the motor.

10. In an organ, the combination with pedal keys, of valves, means connected with the said pedal keys adapted to open one of said valves whenever the corresponding pedal key is depressed, a rotative shaft, means actuated by said keys adapted to rotate the shaft, a spring motor 13, a spring winding mechanism thereon, means connected with said shaft and adapted to operate said winding mechanism, a bellows operated by the motor and means for con veying wind from the bellows to said valves.

11. In an organ, the combination of pedal keys, and a rigid extension 3 secured on each, with valves adapted'to be opened by said extension 3, a shaft 8, means adapted to rotate said shaft when the pedal keys are depressed, a spring motor 13, a spring winding mechanism on said motor, means adapted to transmit the movement of said shaft to the spring winding mechanism to actuate the latter, a sprocket wheel 13 attached to the motor, a wind generating bellows 1.4, a crank shaft 16 and connecting.

rod 14 operating said bellows, a sprocket wheel 16 secured to the said crank shaft 16, means adapted to connect the sprocket wheel 13 with the sprocket wheel 16 conveying; the movement of the mechanism in said spring motor 13 to said crank shaft 16 and operating the bellows.

1:3, In an organ, the combination with pedal keys, of

valves, a shaft 8 adapted to be rotated, means connected with said keys and adapted to actuate said valves and said shaft simultaneously, a motor 13, means whereby the said movement of the shaft is adapted to operate said m0- tor, a wind generating bellows l4, and means connecting said motor with the wind generating bellows and actuating the latter.

v 13. In an organ, the combination with pedal keys, of valves operated thereby, a shaft, means connecting each key with said shaft and adapted to rotate the same; a motor 13, means actuated by said shaft adapted to operate the motor, a wind generating bellows l i, operated by said motor, a wind reservoir 18, wind connection between said bellows 1 1 and reservoir 18, a stop action chamber 19, diaphragm stop valves therein, a pedal stop 20, wind connection between said reservoir and said stop action chamber, a valve chest 5 containing the valves 4, and wind connection between said stop action chamber and the corresponding valve chest.

14. In an organ, the combination with pedal keys, of valves, means adapted to actuate said valves when the corresponding pedal key is depressed, a motor 13, devices interposed between said motor and said pedal keys adapted to actuate said motor when each pedal key is depressed, a bellows actuated by said motor, a stop action chamber 19, a wind connection between said-bellows and said chamber, a reservoir 18 interposed in said connection, a plurality of valve chests 5 and wind connection between the said stop action chamber and the corresponding valve chest.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONARD DANIEL MORRIS.

Witnesses I JOHN A. STAGG, Jon MCCARTHY. 

